# Zero search results searching private messages for specific keyword

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/zero-search-results-searching-private-messages-for-specific-keyword/48429>\
**Category:** Bug\
**Created:** [2016年八月10日 03:24 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/zero-search-results-searching-private-messages-for-specific-keyword/48429 "2016-08-10T03:24:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![DeanMarkTaylor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/deanmarktaylor/32/102462_2.png) [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)\
**Post date:** [2017年四月18日 18:01 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/zero-search-results-searching-private-messages-for-specific-keyword/48429/9 "2017-04-18T18:01:56Z")

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TLDR: You can close this bug report.

(thanks for your support)

* * *

## Search UI Improved

In the time since the original report the definition of “`in:private`” has changed (became more clear)…

… the new “Advanced Search” UI for search makes it clear to the user that the “`in:private`” search parameter will only search “my messages” opposed to “private messages” which previously didn’t indicate the search was limited to only my private messages.

## Original Problem

At the time of this original report I was attempting to follow up on tracking an abusive person communicating privately under with multiple usernames - so it was import to use search to search across all private messages for many keywords to track this users activity.

## Temporary Solution

I ended up creating custom queries via the [Data Explorer](https://meta.discourse.org/t/32566?silent=true) plugin to solve my problem.

> [@Discourse Data Explorer](https://meta.discourse.org/t/data-explorer-plugin/32566):
>
> discourse2Summary Discourse [Data Explorer](https://meta.discourse.org/t/32566?silent=true) allows you to make SQL queries against your live database, allowing for up-to-the-minute stats reporting.open_bookInstall Guide This plugin is bundled with Discourse core. There is no need to install the plugin separately.information_source If you’re looking for examples or support for any custom queries, you can find lots of topics in our #Data & reporting category under the #sql-query tag. If there’s not one to suit your pa…

## Possible Future Feature Request

I can see that an admin having the ability to directly search “all private messages” including those they are not a part of as an important admin tool for specific cases.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/zero-search-results-searching-private-messages-for-specific-keyword/48429)._